The success of Škoda Electric in USA

05.01.2015

Škoda Electric has concluded a contract for complete modernization of 32 articulated trolleybuses in Boston in USA. This is a follow-up to the important delivery of trolleybuses in 2004 - 2005, when Škoda together with the company Neoplan USA manufactured these vehicles for Boston. Now the vehicles need modernization to significantly prolong their life. The value of the contract is approximately 100 millions Czech crowns and it will take place in 2015 and 2016.

“In Boston, they appreciate the quality and technical level of our products. They are very satisfied with their long- -term operation and because of the excellent experience with the trolleybuses Škoda, they decided to prolong their life. The United States also offers good prospects for future deliveries, as it is a huge market, which provides many other interesting business opportunities. For example, we are currently negotiating electric bus projects with the local partners,” says Karel Majer, director of the division Trolleybuses of the company Škoda Electric.

“Škoda Electric has concluded a contract for participation in the project of modernization of 18-meter vehicles. The company Škoda will modernize the mechanical and especially the electric part of the vehicle, i.e. it concerns the full extent of the earlier delivery from the Škoda company. All the 32 delivered DMA type trolleybuses will be modernized,” adds the sales manager of Škoda Electric Pavel Kuch and he also points out: “Besides the articulated vehicles, Škoda delivered 28 “short” twelve-meter trolleybuses to Boston in the past.”

Renovation of the vehicles will take place in USA in cooperation with the local company MMA, which will be in charge of the mechanical modernization of the vehicles, design and interior. The modernization will be performed in the seat of MMA in the northernmost part of USA, in the city of Limestone in Maine. The initial and final testing and the handover of the vehicles will take place directly in Boston. Škoda Electric will be represented by experts specialized in projects in USA, assembly experts and testing technicians.

Škoda has already been modernizing electric equipment of the vehicles. This modernization will also include upgrading and inspection of the roof containers, modification of the collector system, inspection and testing of the entire vehicle and upgrading of the diesel generator. ”We will also bear ultimate responsibility for the complete testing of the vehicles – for example diagnostics, trial operations and voltage tests, support of modernization of the electric part and modernization of other components,” adds Pavel Kuch.

Škoda Electric already sold several hundred trolleybuses to USA in the past, in particular 57 trolleybuses to Dayton in 1995-1999 and 273 trolleybuses to San Francisco in 2001-2004. Moreover, Škoda Transportation also delivered ten trams to USA, to Portland and Tacoma, in 2001-2002.

about acri

ACRI is an organization associating companies active in the rail supply industry in the Czech Republic. ACRI is the associate member of UNIFE (the Union of the European Railway Industries).

It represents interests of all of its members and branch interests of the rail supply industry especially towards the Czech authorities and through UNIFE also towards the European institutions. The ACRI member base includes companies engaged in the development, design, manufacture and maintenance of the guided land transport systems, superstructure, infrastructure, information technology equipment, railway components, materials and provision of services.